The conservation area

Barton Stacey village is a conservation area, with special care given to maintain and enhance the character of the area.

The following notes are taken from the Barton Stacey Conservation Policy document published by Test Valley Borough Council in 1984.

The building named below as 'Sealarks' is now called 'Grange Cottage'

Buildings

The village is small and closely knit. Until the 20th century it was a strongly 'linear' settlement with almost all its builidings running north to south through the village. With its growth in recent years Barton Stacey has spread eastwards but the village street is dominated by its old buildings. The street is not perfectly level, nor is it entirely straight. These deviations create a visual interest as one walks along its length - different views are revealed in shifting sequence. Many of the houses are right up against the road and this provides a feeling of enclosure. This is helped by the presence of numerous well places trees - mostly chestnuts - and some fine old walls.

The architectural character of the area is well defined. The fire that swept through the village in 1792 led to major rebuilding, accounting for a similarity of many houses. The fire also explains why, exceptionally for Hampshire, there are no thatched buildings in the village.

As the main road enters the village from the south, it winds past the site of the old chapel - now demolished - to reach Barton Cottage, which is the first of the older buildings. It is eighteenth century, with later additions. It faces Wades Farm House, which is perhaps the most formal building in the area. It has a broad and elegant brick façade with a large Tuscan porch - above it, a slate roof with deep eaves. These features suggest an early nineteenth century date. The adjoining farm buildings are clearly modern but they lie on the same site as the old farmyard.

"Sealarks" on the other side of the road is a typical Hampshire cottage and is similar to many others in Barton Stacey. Dated 1813 it is characterised by a fine brick front that is laid in the usual Flemish bond pattern, with cambered arches over the openings and a roof of plain clay tiles. 'The Forge' is similar.

The next building is a contrast. The Old Vicarage is probably contemporary with Wades Farm House - note the similar roof with its deep eaves and sash windows - but the cement stucco gives it an altogther different character. The timber porch is probably original but it has been enclosed. It is likely that the exterior of the house conceals an older core.

Continuing northwards through the village the scale reverts to smaller dwellings, many of which are closely grouped together. The street is narrower and more intimate here - trees and grassy banks create informality. Little details are important - notice the nineteenth century bracketed door hoods over the entraces to Virgina Cottage and its neighbour, The Old Plough. New cottages are late nineteenth century - by this time the higher ceilings were resulting in loftier buildings. The Swan Inn is another old building, set back from the road. It has much in common with its neighbours - a dentilled eaves cornice, cambered arches and a plain tiled roof - but it contains a core of chalk cob. The Post Office is another old building although the shop front and windows are obvious modern alterations.

All Saints Church lies on rising ground at a staggered crossroads. The open fields opposite provide a contrast in the line of houses. As in most villages, the church is the single most important building - as a landmark, as a fine work of architecture ans as a reminder of the long history of the area. The present church can be traced back to 1180 but the tower - its most prominent features - dates from 1510. The walled churchyard contains some fine table top tombs and a well placed yew.

Beyond the church is the Malt House, a handsome old building with broad sash windows and a light canopy on the façade. The northern end of the building with its gable facing the road is a later addition, the big panes of sheet glass in the sashes are a Victorian characteristic, and an interesting document in the building's history. A tall brick wall makes a welcome contribution to this part of the street scene.

Several buildings hug the road closely and trees make another important contribution. The last group of old buildings includes the Old Malt House and a converted straddle granary. Was this thatched at one time?

Lying at some distance from the village street is Church Farm - the farmhouse is a particularly important old timber framed building with a complex history. It is one of a small number of buildings in the area that are listed for their special architectureal or historic interest.

The parish of Barton Stacey extends beyond the village and small clusters of historic houses and farms are found at Bransbury and Newton Stacey.